BJ Penn Loves His Malt Liquor

(After a long, hard day in the courtroom, a wide-mouthed Mickey's really takes the edge off.)

As if being the undisputed ruler of the UFC's lightweight division wasn't enough, BJ Penn can now add another title to his impressive resume: Beer poster-boy. According to a new press release:

Two greatly respected Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) powers are combining forces to bring added excitement to the popular sport. The partnership between BJ “The Prodigy” Penn – his league’s current lightweight title holder – and Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor promises action inside and outside the octagon.

“BJ Penn is a favorite among MMA fans, and Mickey’s is BJ’s beer of choice, so a partnership makes a lot of sense for both of us,” said Patrick Minogue, Mickey’s marketing manager. “From the website to packaging to personal appearances, we plan to bring this alliance to life and give Mickey’s drinkers more access to this top MMA fighter.”

Wait a minute — Mickey's is a "greatly respected MMA power"? Mickey's is BJ Penn's beer of choice? Mickey's is anybody's beer of choice? Please, guys, one bombshell at a time.

Penn's new sponsorship deal follows Tito Ortiz, who inked a deal with Mickey's last month. At the time it seemed like a perfect fit, as Mickey's had just been bounced out of the Octagon in favor of Bud Light, and Tito looked to be heading for the exits as well. Now that the Prodigy is taking their money, it appears that Mickey's replacement by a more prominent brand doesn't mean that they've been banned by the UFC altogether. Could other beers follow the fighter sponsorship model in the future? It would be great to see Marcus Davis proudly representing Guinness, Heath Herring named PBR's official Drunk Texan Brawler, and Georges St. Pierre pretending to drink from unopened cans of Molson, Xenergy-style.